Vending machine automatic locking cash box



R. K. BOLEN Feb. 18. 1969 VENDING MACHINE AUTOMATIC LOCKING CASH BOXFiled July 18, 1967 SheetofS INVENTOR RICHARD K BOLEN I ATTORNEYS-v.

Feb. 18, 1969. R. K. BOLEN VENDING MACHINE AUTOMATIC LOCKING CASH BOXFiled July 18, 1967 RN mu N W K D R A H m R m C: O 6 9 5 ATTORNEYVENDING MACHINE AUTOMATIC LOCKING CASH BOX Filed July 18. 19s? R. K-BOLEN Feb. 18, 1969 Sheet FIGJA INVENTOR RICHARD K. BOLEN' IBY(%ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,428,216 VENDING MACHINE AUTOMATIC LOCKING CASHBOX Richard K. Bolen, Morris, 11]., assignor to The NorthwesternCorporation, Morris, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 18,1967, Ser. No. 654,132 U.S. Cl. 221154 Int. Cl. G07f 9/06 9 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to merchandise vending machines and to vendingmachines mounted on the shelves of stands with coin boxes removablypositioned beneath said shelves, such as disclosed in applicants pendingpatent application entitled, Vending Machine Assembly Including a StandWith a Coin Box Therein, Ser. No. 571,751, filed Aug. 11, 1966, nowPatent No.

3,390,753. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements insaid cash boxes in which the cash box is provided with a cover which maybe locked thereon but which has slots for admitting coins therethroughfrom the vending machines. Means is provided for automatically closingthe coin slots as the coin box is removed from the vending machine orthe stand.

Heretofore, the vending machine operator or serviceman who serviced themachines on location necessarily had access to the interior of the coinor cash box of the machine and to the coin contents thereof.Misappropriation, theft and loss of collected coins by such servicemenemployees and/or others was not uncommon. However, with the introductionof the vending machine assemblies with removable coin boxes such asdisclosed in applicants above-mentioned pending patent application, itwas no longer essential or necessary for the servicmen to have access tothe coins of the coin box. The filled coin boxes could be entirelyremoved from the machine or stand and an empty cash box substituted forthe filled one. However, it was obvious that unless the cash boxes wereprovided with covers the removal of which could be independentlycontrolled, i.e., locked or unlocked, the problem could not be solved.Furthermore, it was necessary to provide access means to the interior ofthe boxes for the coins from the vending machines. Moreover, it wasnecessary to afford a structure which would provide independent meansfor controlling said coin access means in order to safeguard againstunauthorized removal of coins from the cash box through said accessmeans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cash box of this invention comprises acontainer of suitable configuration, size and construction adapted to beremovably positioned in a vending machine or in a stand for a vendingmachine so that the coins from the coin chute of the vending machine maybe deposited in said coin box. In the embodiment chosen forillustration, the coin box is of the type for use with vending machinesmounted on the shelves of stands of the type disclosed in myaforementioned co-pending patent application. The box may be slidablypositioned beneath the shelf of the stand on which shelf the vendingmachines are mounted. The box is provided with a removable cover whichmay be locked in position and the means for unlocking said cover may beretained by the owner of the machines or the employee in charge of coincontrol at a central location.

The cover is provided with slots positioned in alignment with the lowerend of the coin chute of the vending machines to enable the coins fromthe machines to drop through the slots into the cash box. Means forblocking or closing said coin slots is provided on said cover, saidmeans being controlled by actuating means likewise contained or mountedon said cover. The actuating means is in turn controlled by triggermechanisms mounted in the machine or in the vending machine stand shelfso that removal of the box from the stand or machine automaticallyenables the triggering mechanism to cooperate with the actuatingmechanism to release the locking means thereby closing the coin slots.

Hence the coin box which the serviceman removes from the machine orstand is in a completely closed and locked condition. The Servicemanthen replaces the removed box by an empty box in which the coin slotlocking means has been pre-set in open position prior to said coverhaving been locked on the box preferably at the central location by thecoin control employee or the machine owner. The filled coin box is thentransported by the serviceman employee to the oflice or central locationwhere the coin control employee may unlock the cover and remove thecoins from the box.

Means for locking the cash box to the stand or the vending machine isincorporated in the box, the key or control means of which may be in thepossession of the service operator.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide anautomatic self-locking cash box for vending machines and vending machinestands.

Another important object is to afford a cash box having means foradmitting coins thereto but designed so that access to the interior ofthe box may be controlled by someone other than the vending machineservice employee.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cash box andvending machine or vending machine stand in which the triggeringmechanism for closing the coin access means of the cash box isincorporated in the machine or stand.

Still a further object is to afford a cash box with a removable coverhaving separate means for locking the cash box in operative position andseparate means for locking the cover on the cash box.

Yet a further object is to provide means in the cover adapted tocooperate with the triggering means for releasing or actuating the coinaccess closing means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention'consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an in spection of which,when considered in connection with the following description, myinvention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many ofits advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin box embodying the principles ofmy invention mounted beneath a pair of vending machines in turn mountedon a stand, a fragmentary portion of which is shown and showing indotted outline the coin box being removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shelf of the stand of FIG. 1 with thecoin box mounted thereunder and showing in dotted fragmentary outlinethe coin box being removed therefrom in the direction shown by thearrows;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken on the plane of line 33 in FIG. 2 of thedrawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cover of the coin box showing the coinslot blocking mechanism held in fully open position by the actuatingmechanism;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the slot blockingmechanism cocked or preset preliminary to being triggered for closingthe coin slots;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the coin slotblocking member in fully closed position with the actuating mechanism inoperative position after it had been triggered and released;

FIG. 7 is an exploded partially sectional and partially end view of thevending machine stand shelf and coin box assembly showing in FIG. 7a thebottom portion of the vending machine with the coin chute therein, inFIG. 7b the vending machine stand shelf, in FIG. 70 the coin box coverin section taken on the plane of line 70-70 in FIG. 4 of the drawings,and in FIG. 7d the coin box in section taken on the plane of line 7d7din FIG. 4 of the drawings;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a detail ofconstruction;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another detail ofconstruction; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of line 1010in FIG. 2 of the drawings, showing a detail of construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1 of the drawings,reference numeral 10 indicates generally a pair of coin controlled bulkvending machines mounted on a stand or pedestal, a fragmentary portionof which is identified generally by reference numeral 14 and whichpedestal may be of the type disclosed in my aforementioned co-pendingpatent application. Stand 14 includes a support column 15 and a shelf 16mounted thereon. The shelf 16 may be formed with a bracket member 17 oftriangular configuration extending rearwardly therefrom. The bracketmember 17 may be formed with a tubular collar 18 opening downwardlytherefrom and internally threaded so that it may be readily mounted onthe top of column 15. A set screw 19 may be provided to lock the shelfin place.

Shelf 16 is formed with a continuous depending flange 16 encircling themarginal edges thereof. One of the end wall flanges 16' is formed with aplurality of spacedapartrecesses or cutouts 16" opening to the bottomedge thereof. The function of these cutouts will be disclosed as thedescription proceeds.

As in the aforementioned co-pending patent application, the shelf 16 isprovided with a pair of rectangularshaped upstanding rims 20, 20 adaptedto receive thereon in encircling relationship the bottom marginal edgesof pedestals 21 of the vending machines 12. The areas of the shelf 16circumscribed by the rectangular or square shaped rims 20 aresubstantially open except for a plurality of cross arms or supportmembers such as 22, one of which 23 is obliquely or angularly disposedwith relation to the pair of cross arms 22 positioned in alignment. Thisthen provides an open space 24 of somewhat larger area than the otherspaces 25 defined by the various cross arms 22. The purpose of thisspace will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Directing attention to FIG. 7a which illustrates the pedestal 21 of thevending machine 12, it will be noted that a coin chute 25 is positionedtherein with its bottom end 26 depending below the bottom edge of thepedestal 21. Thus the bottom end 26 of the coin chute 25 extends downthrough the open space 24 until it almost abuts a coin slot 27 formed ina coin box cover indicated generally by reference numeral 28. The cover28 is designed to lock on and close the top or open end of a cash boxindicated generally by reference numeral 30.

The coin box 30 is of generally rectangular crosssection as defined byside walls 31, 31, integrally formed bottom wall 32 and a pair of endwalls 33 and 34. The top marginal edges of the side walls 31 may beoutwardly flanged as at 34' (see FIG. 7a). The purpose of this willbecome apparent as the description proceeds.

Coin box end wall 33 is provided with means indicated generally byreference numeral 35 for locking the box in position under the shelf 16(see FIG. 10), and end wall 34 is provided with means indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 36 for locking the cover 38 onto the box30 (see FIGS. 7d and 9). Both locking means are independent one of theother and will be disclosed in greater detail as the descriptionproceeds.

Turning now to the novel cash box co ver 28 and the triggering,actuating and lock-out mechanisms associated therewith, attention isdirected to FIGS. 4 through 8 inelusive. The lid or cover 28 comprisesthe top wall 37 the marginal edges of which are bent perpendicularlydownward to form flanges 38', said flanges encircling the top wall 37.The coin slots 27 are formed in spaced relationship in the top wall 37and positioned so that when the coin box is in operative position, saidslots are positioned one directly under each of the coin chutes 25 ofeach vending machine 12.

It shouldbe noted that when the cover 28 is locked ont'othe cash box 30by the locking means 36 the only access to the interior of the box isthrough the coin slots 27.-To 'insure automatic closing or lock-out ofthese slots at all times when the box itself is not in operativeposition beneath the vending machine or stand, novel lockout means isprovided which will now be described in detail.

The lock-out means comprises a lock-out plate or strip 38 slidablymounted to the under surface of the top wall 37 by means of brackets3939, the inner marginal edges 4040 of which are struck from and bentoutwardly from the brackets 39 so as to support the marginal edges ofthe lock-out strip 38 in sliding relationship. A pair of coil springs40-40 are mounted and positioned to maintain the lock-out strip in anormally coin slot blocking relationship as shown in FIG. 6 of thedrawings. To insure the normal coin slot lock-out positioning of thelock-out strip 38, a lock-out leaf spring 41 is afforded. Said leafspring 41 has one end 42 affixed to the inner surface of the cover 37and has an intermediate portion bent inwardly in a direction toward thetop wall 37 so as to afford a vertical surface or segment 44 (FIGS. 7dand 8). Normally this vertical segment 44 abuts the adjacent edge 45,thereby maintaining the plate 38 in the lock-out position shown in FIG.5 of the drawings. In order to permit the plate 38 to be moved to aposition unblocking the coin slots 27, the leaf spring must be bent awayfrom the plate 38 to disengage the vertical segment 44 from abutting theedge 45 of the plate, as shown in FIGS. 7c and 8.

To maintain the lock-out plate 38 in a position whereby the coin slots27 are open or unobstructed (see FIGS. 4 and 5), a novel locking oractuating mechanism is provided. This mechanism comprises a cooperatingcam and pawl arrangement indicated generally by reference numeral 46 andincludes a pair of lock-out pawls or hooklike members 47, 48 adapted tocooperate with a cam 48. Pawls 47, 48 are pivotally connected to thelock-out plate 38 as at 49, 50, it being noted in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 thatpivot 50 is positioned closer to plate edge 45 than is pivot 49.Consequently, since the pawls are of equal length, the hook end 51 ofpawl 47 is positioned below the plane of hook end 52 of pawl 48 (seeFIGS. 4, 5 and 6). The reason therefor will become apparent as thedescription proceeds. Intermediate the length of the hooks 47, 48 thesame are joined together by a coil spring 53 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 ofthe drawings).

The cam 48 is pivotally mounted to the plate 37 by a centrallypositioned pivot member 54. The portion of the cam 49 adjacent the pawl47, 48 is formed with two indentations 55 and 56 respectively, eachopening to opposite sides of the pawl with indentation 55 beingpositioned further from the outer end of the cam than indentation 56.The hook ends 51, 52 of the pawls 47 and 48 are adapted to cooperatewith the indentation 55, 56 to hold the lock-out plate 38 inunobstructing positions as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Whenhook end 51 is in operative position in indentation 55, it will be notedthat the lock-out plate 38 is positioned further from the coin slots 27than when the opposite hook end 52 is in operative position in theindentation 56. Again the purpose thereof will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

The cam 48 is maintained in a normally upright position, the plane ofwhich is perpendicular to the major axis of the plate 38, by a pair ofcoil springs 57, 58 disposed in angular relationship one to the otherand connecting the cam, at a point 58 below the pivot point 54, to theedge of the cover 37 as shown in the several figures of the drawings.

The cover top wall 37 is formed with an arcuate slot 59 positioned abovethe cam 48' as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. Throughthis slot protrudes a lug 60 formed or connected to the cam 48. It willlikewise be noted in FIGS. 2 and 4-6 of the drawings that a straightslot 61 is also formed and spaced apart but in aligned position with theslot 59 in the cover top wall 37. Through this slot 61 another lug 62protrudes, this lug being mounted on the lockout plate 38. Lugs 60 and62 respectively are adapted to cooperate with triggering members or lugs63 and 64 respectively, which depend in aligned positions from the shelf16 (see FIG. 7b), when the cash box with the lugs 60 and 62 protrudingtherefrom is slid into operative position in the shelf 16 and when thesame is removed therefrom in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS.1 and 2 of the drawings. The operation of the triggering and lockoutmechanism will subsequently be disclosed in greater detail.

As was previously indicated, separate locking mechanisms are providedfor locking the cover to close the cash box 30 and to lock the cash boxitself in position beneath the vending machine or the shelf 16 on whichit is supported. Referring to FIGS. 7d and 9 of the drawings, it will benoted that the cover locking mechanism 36 comprises a slotted lug 65mounted on a rotatable shaft 66 channeled through the end wall 34 andterminating on the outside thereof in a locking member 67 which may becontrolled by a key (not shown). The lug 65 is slotted as at 68 so thatwhen the same is rotated or turned by the key to the upright positionshown in FIG. 9, the slot embraces the edge of a horizontal leg 68 of abracket 69. The bracket is mounted on the flange 38' of the top wall 28so that when the slotted lug 65 is moved into upright operative positionand engages the bracket leg 68, the top cover is securely locked on thecoin box 30.

The opposite end of the cover 28 is formed with a rectangular opening orcutout 70 and aflixed thereto or integrally formed therewith anddepending therefrom, is a housing 71 having a wall 72, bottom wall 73and a pair of end walls 74. These walls define an enclosure open to thetop and one end of the cover plate. However, when the cover isoperatively positioned, the end wall 33 of the box effectively closesthe open end of the enclosure leaving only the opening 70 at the topthereof.

The enclosure 75 is adapted to house therein the means 35 for lockingthe box in operative position in the stand. Simultaneously the walls 72,73 and 74 complete the closure of the coin box while at the same timeaffording access for the locking means to the enclosure 75 through thetop opening 70.

The box locking means 35 comprises a tongue 76 mounted on a rotatableshaft 77 positioned through a locking tumbler 78 journalled through thecash box end wall 33 and terminating in an outer boss 79 having akeyhole formed therein adapted to receive a key 80. The locking tongue76 may be rotated in and out of operative position by said key. Thus,the tongue 76 may be rotated from a horizontal position to a verticalplane after the cash box has been moved into operative position. Whenpositioned in said vertical plane, the outer end of the tongue abuts thedepending flange 16 of the shelf 16, thereby locking the cash box inimmovable position on the stand.

The cash box 30 may be slidably supported beneath the shelf 16 by anysuitable means but, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 of the drawings, comprisesa pair of channels or brackets 81, 81 of inverted L-shaped cross-sectionmounted to the inside of the depending flange 16' with their horizontallegs 82, 82 in spaced relationship with the bottom of the shelf 16. Thecash box 30 is slid into position by first inserting the ends of theside wall flanges 34' in the space between the bracket leg 82 and thebottom of the shelf 16 so that the cash box is supported by the flanges34 and the bracket 82. It should further be noted that as the cash boxis slid into position beneath the shelf 16, the recesses 16" formed inthe depending end flange 16 of the shelf permit the upwardly protrudinglugs 60 and 62 to pass therethrough without obstruction.

OPERATION The empty cash box is furnished to the Serviceman or operatorby the vending machine owner or the coin-control employee at the centraloflice or service location of the owner. The cash box as supplied to theemployee has the cover 28 locked thereon and the key of the lock 36 isretained by the owner or coin-control employee. However, prior tolocking the cover in position, the lockout plate 38 is set in theposition shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings with the lockout pawl 47engaged in the recess 55 of the cam 48'.

When the service operator reaches the location of the stand 14, heinserts the cash box endwise so that the cash box flanges 34 areinserted with the flanges 34' supported by the bracket 81. The box ispushed or slid in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow inFIG. 1. As the cash box slides into position, the lug 60 mounted on thecam 48' is brought into engagement with the depending triggering lug 64.This causes the cam 48' to rotate in an arcuate path, moving the recess55 of the cam so that the hook 51 of the lockout pawl 47 is disengagedtherefrom. This, of course, releases the lockout plate 38 so that thesprings 40 draw the same toward closure of the coin slots 27. However,before the upper edge of the plate 38 reaches the coin slots 27, therecess 56 moves into engagement with the hook 52 of the other pawl 48,thereby cocking the lockout plate 38 in the position shown in FIG. withthe coin slots 27 remaining unobstructed or open. The rotation of thecam 48 is accomplished against the action of the spring 58 so that assoon as the box has moved sufficiently for the lug 60 to have passed theposition of the trigger lug 64, the cam 48' is returned to its uprightposition. The coin box now having passed the triggering lugs 63 and 64,the box continues to slide until it reaches the full operative positionwith the end wall 34 in abutment with the end portion of the dependingflange 16' of the shelf 16. In this position the coin slots 27 arepositioned directly below, and in alignment with, the bottom ends 26 ofthe vending machine coin chutes 25. The key 80 is then used in the lock35 to rotate the tongue 26 into engagement with the depending flange 16'of the shelf, thereby locking the box in position under the shelf.

When it is desired to remove the cash box, the key 80 is inserted intothe lock 35, the tongue 76 is rotated thereby to a horizontal positiondisengaging the same from the shelf flange 16 so that the box may bepulled out in the direction indicated by arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings. When it is pulled out sufficiently so that the lug 60 isbrought into engagement with the triggering lug 64, cam 48 is againrotated arcuately but this time in the opposite direction and againstthe action of the spring 57. This time the recess 56 of the cam 48' isrotated out of engagement with the hook end 52 of the pawl 48, therebycompletely releasing the lockout plate 38 so that the springs 40 movethe plate into the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings and therebyeffectively locking or closing the coin slots 27. Thus, by the time thecash box 30 is removed from the stand, the coin slots are closed. Theycannot be reopened, except by removal of the cover, by virtue of thebottom edge of the lockout plate engaging the vertical segment 44 of therelease spring 41.

'It should be noted in FIG. 8 of the drawings that a portion of thelockout plate 38 is formed so that the same is spaced from the cover topwall 37 sufliciently so that a firm immovable engagement between thelockout plate 45 and the vertical segment of the release spring 41 isinsured. The filled cash box may then be transported to the coin-controloperator who has retained the key to the cover lock 67. To facilitatetransportation, a carrying handle such as 84 may be pivotally mounted onthe side 31 of the cash box 30.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that I haveprovided a novel automatic self-locking cash box for vending machineswhich enables the machine to be serviced without affording access to thecontents of the cash box to the serviceman but which provides access forcoins to drop into the cash box from the coin chutes of the vendingmachines. These coin access means, however, are automatically closed asthe cash box is being removed from operative position beneath thevending machines and/ or the shelves of the stands on which they may bemounted.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A coin controlled merchandise vending machine having a coin chute anda coin box, said coin chute having one end adapted to receive coinsinserted into the machine and a free end adapted to guide the said cointo said coin box said coin box having a cover adapted to close said coinbox, said cover having at least one coin slot aligned with the end ofthe coin chute positioned to receive coins from said coin chute;

locking means for locking said cover on said coin box;

independent locking means for locking said coin box in operationalposition within said vending machine; lockout means associated with saidcover for closing said coin slot;

triggering means adjacent said cover; and

actuating means on said cover responsive to said triggering means foroperating said lockout means as said coin box is moved in and out ofoperational position with said vending machine.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 in which:

said first-mentioned locking means comprises a bracket having ahorizontal leg depending from an end of said cover;

a slotted lug mounted on a rotatable shaft, said rotatable shaftjournaled through an end wall of said coin box; and

key-controlled locking means for controlling the rotation of said shaftand attached bracket from a horizontal position to a vertical positionwhereby the edge of said bracket horizontal leg is retained in the slotof said slotted lug.

3. The vending machine of claim 1 in which:

said second-mentioned locking means comprises a tongue mounted on arotatable shaft, said rotatable shaft journalled through an end wall ofsaid coin box;

key-controlled locking means for controlling the rotation of said shaftand attached tongue from a horizontal position to a vertical position astand for said vending machine, said standing having a shelf;

said shelf formed with a depending marginal flange, said tongue adaptedto abut said flange when rotated to its vertical position therebylocking said cash box in position within said vending machines, and saidtongue positioned in an enclosure opening to the top of said cash boxcover.

4. The vending machine of claim 1 in which:

said lockout means comprises a plate slidably mounted beneath said coinslot; and

spring means connecting said plate and said cover, said spring meansnormally urging said plate to a position blocking said coin slot.

5. The vending machine of claim 3 in which:

means is provided for preventing the unauthorized movement of said platefrom the coin-slot closing position from outside the cash box, saidmeans comprising a leaf spring mounted beneath said cover, said leafspring having a segment formed perpendicular to said plate and normallyabutting the edge of said plate when the same is positioned in saidcoinslot closing position.

6. The vending machine of claim 1 in which:

said actuating means comprises hooking means mounted on said lockoutmeans; and

hook-engaging means mounted on Said cover, said hook-engaging meansresponsive to triggering means to release said hooking means whereby torelease said lockout means for movement to a coin slot closing position.

7. The vending machine of claim 4 in which:

said hooking means comprises a pair of pawls with hook-like ends, saidpawls being pivotally mounted in said lockout means, said hook-engagingmeans comprising a cam pivotally mounted beneath said top wall, said camhaving a pair of recesses opening to opposite edges of said cam, saidpawls adapted to releasably engage portions of said cam adjacent saidrecesses, and said cam rotatable about a perpendicular axis in responseto triggering means to release said pawls.

8. The vending machine of claim 5 in which said vending machine ismounted on the shelf of a stand:

said triggering means comprises at least one triggering lug dependingfrom said stand shelf; and

at least one lug positioned on said cam and protruding upwardly in thepath of said triggering lug whereby said cam is caused to rotate whensaid cam lug is moved past said triggering lug thereby moving at leastone of said pawl hooks out of engagement with at least one of saidrecesses.

9 10 9. The vending machine of claim 6 in Which: References Cited saidtop wall has an arcuate slot formed therein, said UNITED STATES PATENTScam lug protruding through said slot; 803 217 10/1905 Dole 221*154 XR astraight slot formed in said top wall; 1 767634 6/1930 Weiss 221 154 alug mounted on said lockout plate and protruding 5 24OO756 5/1946 gg' zj"':: through Said Straight Slot; and 21402;,997 10/1946 Rhodes 194 -1 asecond lug depending from said stand shelf and adapted to abut saidlockout plate lug whereby to WALTER SOBINPrimary Examinerstop themovement of said cash box in the event said US. Cl. X.R. lockout plateis improperly positioned. 10 1941

